Good article on the Design and engineering of the Xbox One X with some additional insights into the Xbox division In general
Lots more in the link
On the table in front of us, a row of Xbox One X prototypes shows the evolution of Microsofts latest console, each showing a subtle refinement or compromise on the last. We had this idea of a floating monolith, says senior industrial designer Bryan Sparks, whos worked on the Xbox team for five years. He was inspired by the monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Microsoft is confident 4K is a safe bet. But betting on a new technology that few can afford carries inherent risks. Thats why Microsoft has the Dream Killer. Its where we break designers hearts, says principal design manager John Snavely, one of the leads on the redesign of the Xbox software interface. Hidden away in a side room, the Dream Killer is a reminder to all engineers and designers that many gamers dont have the latest technology, even if theyre happy to shell out on a new console. Its a TV we shouldve thrown away a long time ago. Its awful. We put a lot of time into making sure our content looks good on the Dream Killer,
When Microsoft revealed the original Xbox One in May 2013, it was positioned as an all-encompassing set-top box rather than a games console. But Microsofts desire to own the living room failed and its been playing catch-up ever since. I totally understand what youre talking about in terms of the launch of Xbox One and that TV stuff, and Kinect. It was a vision that was different, says Phil Spencer, who became head of Xbox in March 2014. Normally erudite, Spencer stops and starts before settling on a carefully worded answer. I understood the vision that the prior team had. Hopefully, our last three years shows that a focus on the gaming customer is critically important to us. The One X and its less powerful sibling the One S are an attempt to pick up where the Xbox 360 left off. Spencer attributes the change in attitude to decisions made at the top of Microsoft: Its been nice to see what Satya Nadella talks about now. The support we have for being in the games industry and not being something else is incredibly high.
Lots more in the link